Title

The layer 2 switch must have BPDU Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

If a rogue switch is introduced into the topology and transmits a Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) with a lower bridge priority than the existing root bridge, it will become the new root bridge and cause a topology change, rendering the network in a suboptimal state. The STP PortFast BPDU guard enhancement allows network designers to enforce the STP domain borders and keep the active topology predictable. The devices behind the ports that have STP PortFast enabled are not able to influence the STP topology. At the reception of BPDUs, the BPDU guard operation disables the port that has PortFast configured. The BPDU guard transitions the port into errdisable state and sends a log message.

Check Content

Review the switch configuration to verify that BPDU Guard is enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports. If the switch has not enabled BPDU Guard, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the switch to have BPDU Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-206655r383575_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-206655

Group Title: SRG-NET-000362

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.